Political reasons behind Chad's withdrawal from the International Criminal Court

Ahmed Salem

The Minister of Information and official spokesperson confirmed Chadian governmentQasim Sharif Mohammed stated that his country's decision to withdraw from membership in the International Criminal Court comes within the framework of reviewing its position on the performance of this international institution, during clarifications he made to the media following the announcement of the withdrawal procedures.

The minister said that the Chadian government was keen to inform national, regional and international public opinion about the background of the decision, explaining that his country had officially notified the United Nations of its withdrawal from the Rome Statute, which established the International Criminal Court, in accordance with the approved legal procedures.

Statute of Rome, 20 October 1999

Qasim Sharif Muhammad explained that Chad had signed the Rome Statute on October 20, 1999, and ratified it on November 1, 2006, before deciding to terminate its membership in the court, which is based in The Hague, Netherlands, with the withdrawal to take effect after the completion of the specified legal deadlines.

The official spokesperson for the government indicated that the decision is related to a number of observations expressed by Chad, along with a number of African countries, regarding the way the International Criminal Court operates, especially with regard to what he described as the existence of selectivity in the course of investigations and the focus of cases on African countries and developing countries.

The minister affirmed that the Chadian government believes that international justice should be based on the principles of equality, impartiality and respect for the sovereignty of states, calling for a broader discussion on reforming the international criminal justice system in a way that enhances the confidence of member states in it.

The announcement of the withdrawal comes at a time when international debate continues over the role of the International Criminal Court, between those who consider it an essential mechanism for combating impunity, and those who demand a review of its working mechanisms to ensure greater balance and fairness.